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Author
Topic: French elections, your thoughts? (Read 12566 times)

I think Segolene Royale (the left) should take speech lessons, because I listened to her "defeat speech" today and I think she speaks like a farmer (I like farmers, but they shouldn't try to be presidents).

The winner's speech was a bit strange, he looked like he was going to cry at the beginning. Few sentences were of interest:

"i will rehabilitate the work, the authority, the morals, the respect, the merit. I will put back the honor, the nation, and the national identity, i will give back to the French the french pride" sounds like fun."To the Americans: we are your friends, but friends should be allowed to think differently" whatever that means

I'm glad that the nazi right finally lost and only made 11%, compared to scary 15-20% on previous elections.

Since we have so many people from different worldwide locations, I'm wondering what you think of this? Is it important to you? You don't care? Don't be afraid to say your feelings about the French

Actually the French Presidential election has been all over the Australian media. Why, I don't know. I suspect the French have elected the president they deserve.

MtD

Well the new president doesn't like expats, he thinks they're betraying the country. I'm eligible for being an American citizen in June, and I'm seriously considering it, as I believe that he's the one betraying me.

Which is odd. Australia has a huge French ex-pat community. All over the place, heads on 'em like rats. They voted at French embassies across the nation in record numbers and they overwhelmingly supported M. Sarkozy.

Which is odd. Australia has a huge French ex-pat community. All over the place, heads on 'em like rats. They voted at French embassies across the nation in record numbers and they overwhelmingly supported M. Sarkozy.

MtD

O RLY ?

I'll have to check the expat votes, I haven't checked yet, it's interesting you say that, I thought expats were leftists, but maybe it's a timezone thing

"To the Americans: we are your friends, but friends should be allowed to think differently" whatever that means

Friends should be allowed to think differently

Um, totally

That's how we grow

I love the French. I had a super cool cute temporary roommate from Paris in 2001. He was here to get his master's degree in business. We would go out to clubs and kiss cute boys and laugh laugh laugh. If all French people are like him (yeah, right, I'm not that naive) then all French people are super cool and super fun and super smart

We would go out to clubs and kiss cute boys and laugh laugh laugh. If all French people are like him (yeah, right, I'm not that naive) then all French people are super cool and super fun and super smart

Well we learn French kiss at school. It's a major, and you can't skip the class

Well the new president doesn't like expats, he thinks they're betraying the country. I'm eligible for being an American citizen in June, and I'm seriously considering it, as I believe that he's the one betraying me.

Milker.

The leadership debate received the 2nd highest TV rating in France ever (after the World Cup). Yet in the United States (self-proclaimed guardian of democracy for the world and renowned France-slagger) only 50% bother to vote

I had dinner in February with some dear friends visiting from France, who are generally somewhat liberal and they couldn't stand Sego, so they seemed resigned to vote for Sarko and hold their noses. I think that's what many did. Royal ran a really, really dreadful campaign. Advocating people keep little French flags in their kitchen cupboards... wtf???

Mme Royale stood for more of the same policies that have led to France's economic stagnation. Plus her judgement was called into question by a series of diplomatic blunders, including feeding our separatists trolls by calling for sovereignty and liberty for Quebec.

At the end of the day the French voted for change, hopefully the same will happen south of the 49th in 2008!

Arent the French elections just in place to pick the guy/gal that waves the white flag when war breaks out? I thought it was just a symbolic type position.

Logged

LIFE is not a race to the grave with the intention of arriving safelyin a pretty and well-preserved body, but, rather to skid in broadside,thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--WOW! WHAT ARIDE!!!

"Arent the French elections just in place to pick the guy/gal that waves the white flag when war breaks out? I thought it was just a symbolic type position."

hmm, if you want to portray the french as a bunch of cowards then you obviously don't know s***t about history, opportunists they may be, cowards the're not

as for their stance on the war in Iraq, it weren't just the french who tried to make the US see the stupidity of it, Belgium, Germany and others were amongst them. the reason why those country were and still are opposed to that silly war is simple, experience, each of these country's have a long history in dealing with arab nations, we know how insatble they can be, and wat can happen if you try to muddle in there, every single prediction about the whole mess in iraq they made, has come true (sadly enough)still it were nice elections, i watched the whole election night on french tv, and yes i agree, segolene should have done better

LIFE is not a race to the grave with the intention of arriving safelyin a pretty and well-preserved body, but, rather to skid in broadside,thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--WOW! WHAT ARIDE!!!

The other day, I was ordering some fast food when I noticed on the menu that they offered onion rings or "Freedom Fries". I had to ask a friend of mine again...."What the hell is a Freedom Fry?" I knew I had heard the term, but had forgotten exactly what it was for. Was this something like "Home Fries" or "Curly Q"?

No.

I was reminded that it was the term coined when Americans decided to rebel against the term "French Fry" in protest against the French over opposition to Iraq. It occured to me that we never got around to adopting the "Freedom Kiss" and the like. The whole thing felt impossibly silly to me all of the sudden. Not the war, the line drawn at the sliced and fried potato.

LIFE is not a race to the grave with the intention of arriving safelyin a pretty and well-preserved body, but, rather to skid in broadside,thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--WOW! WHAT ARIDE!!!

Oh, thunter. You'd just LOVE Gino's cheese steaks near where I live. It's one of the legendary original South Philly steak shacks and not only do they still have Freedom Fries listed, but they also have signs stipulating that they only accept orders in English.

LIFE is not a race to the grave with the intention of arriving safelyin a pretty and well-preserved body, but, rather to skid in broadside,thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--WOW! WHAT ARIDE!!!

Its never humorous when the joke is about libs,socialists,Euros, or Dems, only republicans. Libs and socialists have no sense of humor. How boring their lives must be. French are not cowards, and they love a good fight(see vietnam and n.africa) but their politicians favored appeasement over preparation in WW1 and WW2, but so did England and US. Only Churchill was sounding the alarm. Calling French cowards would be the same as calling US cowards after 911 because of our appeasement policies of the 80s and 90s.

Its never humorous when the joke is about libs,socialists,Euros, or Dems, only republicans. Libs and socialists have no sense of humor. How boring their lives must be. French are not cowards, and they love a good fight(see vietnam and n.africa) but their politicians favored appeasement over preparation in WW1 and WW2, but so did England and US. Only Churchill was sounding the alarm. Calling French cowards would be the same as calling US cowards after 911 because of our appeasement policies of the 80s and 90s.

Now you get it, it is FUNNY because Republicans ARE a joke as evidenced by their absurd views...have another piece of freedom toast to go with your kool-aid...it was the Bush administration calling the French cowards and trying to eliminate the word "french" from the limited American vocabulary. You're right the French aren't cowards but repubes sure are...there must be a zillion military deferments in this administration alone...now that's funny.

Now you get it, it is FUNNY because Republicans ARE a joke as evidenced by their absurd views...have another piece of freedom toast to go with your kool-aid...it was the Bush administration calling the French cowards and trying to eliminate the word "french" from the limited American vocabulary. You're right the French aren't cowards but repubes sure are...there must be a zillion military deferments in this administration alone...now that's funny.

It is part of his pathology of martyrdom. He has convinced himself that being abused here is in someway a noble sacrifice to the greater good of the repiglican god. I think he feels this is his portal into repiglican salvation. He envisions himself, pathetically so, as part of the Greater Good of the repiglican junta.

Dachs, remember, it takes as much effort to smile as it does to frown and to love as to hate. Hatred really doesnt become you.

Wow Jake that sure is the conservative kettle calling the liberal pot taupe. Maybe it's an effort for you to smile or love but not me...I'm full of the holy ghost sister... and I can show you the way. You need to up your meditation time.

i can tell you at this moment republicans aren't very popular in europe, telling people here you're american will get you weary looks, telling them you're republican will end you sitting very lonesome at the bar.

another thing i just can't get, it's funny how the americans have given a meaning to the word "liberal" wich is exact the opposite of what it means over here in europe.here in belgium for example we have a prime minister who is a liberal from the liberal party, he stands for, less state, less taxes, more entrepeneurship, less social programs. sounds a lot like Bush, luckly he also is pro-gay (he passed a law allowing gay-marriage) and anti-war

like I said, its only funny if its about republicans. Dachs, do you ever get tired of hating everyone who doesnt agree with you? Sure must take a lot of energy. You really need to get a life.

I found AC's picture funny, i'm french and more on the left side. There are people that take it too personally on both sides. The freedom fries made the french laugh a lot, but 9/11 did not. I don't think there is one french citizen that finds 9/11 laughable.

I found AC's picture funny, i'm french and more on the left side. There are people that take it too personally on both sides. The freedom fries made the french laugh a lot, but 9/11 did not. I don't think there is one french citizen that finds 9/11 laughable.

Milker.

As I remember the days following 9/11, there was this incredible feeling of solidarity against the terrorists. But this quickly dissapated into nationalism and a black-and-white attitude of being either for us or against us.

When the Bush administration laid out its fraudulent case in favor of invading Iraq, Europe didn't buy it, but most especially France didn't buy it. As their intelligence as regards Arab countries is far superior to ours, they knew that it was a red herring. This wasn't due to rife anti-Americanism as much as a friend calling bullshit on another. My simpleton ex felt betrayed by France's UN votes and stopped drinking Pouilly Fuisse (like that DID anything except lower his taste in wine).

At the time I didn't know what to believe (but never stopped drinking Cotes-du-Rhone), but understood that France's opposition to American militarism wasn't evil and was probably more a reflection of their greater understanding of the situation. Now that we're five years into a quagmire that's led to a civil war in Iraq that we've helped start, who looks better?

Brent(Who has had many French friends)

Oh! and to at least hit the opening topic:Chirac was considered right of center but governed from the middle. I see no reason why the newly-elected president will not do the same.

Logged

Blessed with brains, talent and gorgeous tits.

The revolutionary smart set reads The Spin Cycle at least once every day.

I think it's fair to see Sarkozy as being further to the right than Chirac, but his Gaulist party will need to solidify their seats in the National Assembly elections which are next month to have any sort of effective domestic reformist agenda.

It's the prime minister appointed by the figurehead president who actually gets his hands dirty with the legislature (and popular opinion). My experience with French politics is that they run as naturally to the left as Americans to the right. And I find it difficult to fathom any support for gutting the socialism of Mitterand, economic consequences be damned. Who wouldn't rather have four week's vacation and universal health care?

Brent(Who wonders what life would have been like had he stayed in Paris after 1992)

Logged

Blessed with brains, talent and gorgeous tits.

The revolutionary smart set reads The Spin Cycle at least once every day.

Oh, I agree that someone to the right in France is still about as left as Ted Kennedy. I wasn't implying that there will be a Thatcherite Revolution in France. I still think Sarkozy will govern further to the right, if ever so slightly, than Chirac.

I'm somewhat familiar with France, having travelled there regularly since 1980 and possessing a minor degree in the language. Thought I will admit I'm more familiar with Lyon and points south rather than Paris. I'll take a month in Provence over the Champs-Elysee anytime.

I'll agree with the Champs-Elysee. I always felt "my Paris" was in the 9th north of the boulevards, the 4th in the Marais/Republique/Bastille, the 11th Bastille/Nation and the 20th where I did my shopping and laundry. There was this bakery on the Rue d'Avron that sold a confection called "chocobig" that was an enormous pain au chocolat and was thoroughly addicting (like the sliced "pudding").

I've never in my life been to a place more civilized than the walk down from the Place de Clichy to la Trinite unless it's the Passieg de Gracia in Barcelona (and even then).

I had a friend who's mother owned a house in Collioure right near the Spanish border. It was heaven for the three weeks I spent there:

there were many reason the French did not want to support us or appear to support us in our war in Iraq.1. France lives in fear of its moslem population2. Iraq was a large trading partner with Iraq, and of course one of the largest violators of the UN food or oil program.3. OIL. All Euros,Russians and Asians want the oil and if we are there,well you figure it out.4. Chirac thought by opposing US he could make France into Euros leader and regain some of its past stature.

For the millionth time, just about every Dem,including Clinton and Kerry said in the late 90s that Iraq had WMDs. The UN said it. All of Europe said it. It was convenient way to enter the war. Bush and his gang thought there was no way they could lose that one, every Dem had made speeches about Iraq WMD and the need to replace Saddam. What they didnt count on was the "poor memory" of US media. WMD wasnt the only reason Bush gave for going into Iraq, it was one of several. We went in to protect our interests. OIL. Without oil or if a lunatic like the little midget in Iran gets his mitts on it, the world economy shuts down. We have to be there to keep pressure on the dictators in Saudi Arabia and Iran. Bush has made many mistakes. He waited to long to attack Iraq because of moderates and appeasers in US,and he wasted valuable time trying to convince the UN and Euros of his plan.Bush,like Clinton before him,should have fired all political appointees from past administration,especially the two morons running the fbi and cia.He has tried to long for a political end to this war. Kill the fucking enemy and come home.

Mmmm.. Collioure looks lovely. I have enough mileage for 2 jaunts to Europe at the moment and I always have a free place to stay in Lyon, as dear friends I've known now for 25 years are there. I had intended to go this current Spring but I never got around to booking my seat, so I guess I'll aim for Autumn. However, this trip I plan on exploring the wilds of Le Massif Central area.

And of course if you like Cotes du Rhone Lyon is a delightful destination... plus the city is not touristy at all. Easy drive to the Alps too.